Services/Functional medicine/Hormone testing (DUTCH)
— SERVICE · LAB · DRIED URINE

Hormone testing.

DUTCH panels for cortisol patterns, sex hormones, and the metabolites that explain why your labs look 'fine' but you don't feel fine.

35+
hormone metabolites
24 hrs
of cortisol mapping
At-home
dried urine kit
10 days
results turnaround
— HOW IT WORKS

Free hormones. Plus the metabolites.

Standard blood draws give a single snapshot of total hormones. DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) maps cortisol across the day, captures sex hormones, and shows the metabolites that determine how your body actually uses those hormones.

Why metabolites matter: two patients with identical estrogen levels can have wildly different breast cancer risk depending on which pathway their estrogen is metabolized through. The metabolite tells you what the level can't.

Phase 01 · Order
Phase 02 · Collect
Phase 03 · Review
We pick the right panel.

Basic DUTCH, DUTCH Complete, DUTCH Plus (with cortisol awakening response), or DUTCH Cycle Mapping. We match the panel to the question we're trying to answer.

— GOOD FIT IF
Persistent fatigue or low energy
PMS, perimenopause, or postmenopausal symptoms
Suspected adrenal or HPA-axis dysfunction
Sleep issues or night-time cortisol concerns
Unexplained weight gain despite diet and exercise
You want full hormone metabolite data, not just 'in range'
— NOT A FIT IF
×Acute medical condition (treat that first)
×Currently on hormone replacement (some panels need adjustment)
×Pregnancy (we use other panels)
×Unwilling to follow through on protocol
×Looking for a one-pill answer
×Not willing to retest to confirm change
— GOOD TO KNOW

Comprehensive hormone evaluation beyond standard blood panels

Hormone testing evaluates the endocrine system — including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid hormones — to identify imbalances that drive fatigue, weight resistance, mood disruption, cognitive decline, and sleep dysfunction. Standard serum panels measure circulating hormone levels at a single point in time, which misses diurnal patterns, tissue-level metabolism, and the downstream breakdown products that determine how hormones actually affect the body.

The DUTCH panel, developed by Precision Analytical, collects urine samples across the full day to map the complete hormone-metabolite picture: cortisol awakening response, daily cortisol rhythm, estrogen metabolism pathways (2-OH, 4-OH, 16-OH), progesterone metabolites, androgen levels, and melatonin. This provides clinical data that standard bloodwork does not capture — particularly for patients whose symptoms don't match their 'normal' lab results.

Signs your hormones need attention

If three or more of these sound familiar, hormones are worth investigating: constant fatigue after a full night's sleep; unexplained weight changes with no change in diet or routine; mood swings, irritability, or anxiety that comes out of nowhere; trouble sleeping or waking at 3 AM wired; brain fog where words don't come as easily; and a libido that quietly disappeared.

These aren't just 'getting older' — they're signals. Cortisol patterns, thyroid function, insulin, and sex hormones all influence how you feel day to day, and any one of them being off can produce the whole cluster.

How we test hormones in Jacksonville and Orange Park

We start by choosing the right tool for the question. A blood hormone panel covers estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, a full thyroid panel (not just TSH), DHEA, and more — a solid starting point for most patients. The DUTCH dried-urine test is the deep dive, mapping hormone metabolites, cortisol rhythm, and methylation pathways that blood alone can't reveal.

Based on your initial results, we may order targeted follow-up panels — adrenal stress testing, nutrient testing, or thyroid antibodies — to complete the picture. From there the process is simple: test with the right panel, analyze the metabolites and patterns (not just whether you're 'in range'), build a plan of targeted nutrition, specific supplements, and lifestyle change, then retest at 90 days to measure real change objectively.

Who should get their hormones tested

Women in perimenopause or menopause dealing with hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings, midsection weight gain, and disrupted sleep — testing shows exactly how hormones are shifting and what to do about it. Men with fatigue, loss of muscle mass, brain fog, low motivation, and decreased libido — 'low T' is real, but so are the conditions that mimic it, and testing separates the two.

Anyone with chronic fatigue that hasn't responded to more sleep, better food, and more water is a candidate, because cortisol patterns, thyroid function, and sex hormones all affect energy. And when diet and exercise haven't changed but the scale keeps climbing, hormones — thyroid, insulin, cortisol, estrogen — are the first place to look.

From testing to a plan you can act on

A result you can't use isn't worth much, so the review is where the value is. In a 60-minute results session we walk through your cortisol curves, estrogen pathways, androgen metabolism, and melatonin in plain language — no jargon, no confusing charts left for you to Google. You'll understand what's off, why it matters, and exactly what we're going to do about it.

From there the plan is targeted nutrition, specific supplementation, and lifestyle change matched to your results, then a retest at 90 days to confirm real movement. Not sure whether testing is even the right step? We offer a free hormone consultation to help you figure out the right next move, with no obligation, at our Jacksonville or Orange Park office.

— COMMON QUESTIONS

Hormone testing, answered.

What is hormone testing?
Hormone testing measures the levels of key hormones in your body — including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, and thyroid hormones — to identify imbalances that may be causing symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood changes, low libido, sleep disruption, or irregular cycles.
What is the DUTCH test?
The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) test is the most advanced hormone panel available for evaluating sex hormones and their metabolites, cortisol patterns throughout the day, organic acid markers, and melatonin. It provides a far more complete picture of hormonal function than standard blood or saliva tests.
How is the DUTCH test done?
The DUTCH test is done at home using urine collection strips taken at specific times throughout one day and evening. The strips are dried and mailed to the lab. Results are typically returned within 5 to 10 business days. No clinic visit is required for collection — interpretation and treatment planning is done with your Meridian provider.
What hormones does the DUTCH test measure?
The DUTCH Complete test measures estrogens (E1, E2, E3) and their metabolites, progesterone metabolites, androgens (testosterone, DHEA-S, androsterone), cortisol and cortisone throughout the day (mapping the HPA axis), melatonin, and several organic acid markers including B12 and B6 status, dopamine and serotonin metabolites, and oxidative stress markers.
Who should get hormone testing?
Hormone testing is appropriate for anyone experiencing unexplained fatigue, weight gain despite diet and exercise, brain fog, mood changes, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, low libido, irregular periods, PMS symptoms, or perimenopause and menopause symptoms. Both men and women benefit from comprehensive hormone evaluation.
How do I know if my hormones are imbalanced?
Common signs of hormone imbalance include persistent fatigue not explained by sleep or activity, unexplained weight changes, brain fog, mood instability, hair thinning, low libido, night sweats, irregular cycles, and feeling 'off' despite normal standard blood work. The DUTCH test and comprehensive thyroid panel reveal imbalances that standard TSH and basic metabolic panels frequently miss. Meridian offers hormone testing in Jacksonville and Orange Park, FL.

Stop guessing about your hormones.

Order a DUTCH panel